Q: What is Jobs Theory?
A) A management system created by Steve Jobs.
B) A method for understanding why people buy certain products and services.
C) The idea that a company should only have as many employees as it has “vital, relevant jobs” to do.
D) A framework for defining internal job titles and descriptions.
Correct Answer is B) A method for understanding why people buy certain products and services.
Explanation:
Jobs Theory is a concept that was first introduced by Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor, in his book “The Innovator’s Dilemma.” At its core, Jobs Theory is a framework for understanding why customers choose to buy certain products or services.
The basic premise of Jobs Theory is that customers “hire” products or services to help them get a job done. This job could be anything from cleaning a house to communicating with friends, and the product or service is hired to make the job easier or more efficient.
The key insight of Jobs Theory is that customers don’t actually care about the product or service itself – they care about the job it helps them to accomplish. This means that businesses need to focus on understanding the job that their customers are trying to do, rather than just improving their product or service.
To apply Jobs Theory in practice, businesses need to start by identifying the jobs that their customers are trying to do. This involves understanding the context in which the job is being performed, the desired outcome, and any constraints or barriers that customers may face.
Once a business has a clear understanding of the jobs that their customers are trying to do, they can use this information to guide product development and marketing. This could involve developing new products that better meet customer needs, improving existing products to make them more effective at getting the job done, or creating marketing campaigns that speak directly to the job that customers are trying to do.
Jobs Theory has been used successfully by a number of companies to drive innovation and growth. One well-known example is the development of the Swiffer cleaning system by Procter & Gamble. By applying Jobs Theory, the company was able to identify that customers weren’t just looking for a better mop – they were looking for a quick and easy way to clean their floors. This led to the development of the Swiffer system, which has become a highly successful product line for the company.
In conclusion, Jobs Theory is a powerful framework for understanding customer needs and driving innovation in product development and marketing. By focusing on the job that customers are trying to do, businesses can create products and services that are better suited to customer needs and more effective at getting the job done. While Jobs Theory may require a shift in thinking for businesses, the results can be transformative and help businesses to achieve long-term growth and success.